Maryland policmakers have ended a series of hearings about health care reform changes (I don't want to label it "reform" since it's likely anything they propose will be worse than our already-flawed system). The Washington Times reports: "Maryland lawmakers say they are determined to try again on a health care reform package that would boost the number of people with health insurance, put more workers in wellness programs and reduce premiums for people with insurance."

Of course Medicaid expansion is one of the state's top priorities. Regardless of the fact the state is facing a huge deficit, many here want to expand the program which is a leading driver of that deficit. As one advocate says, "There's a growing consensus that the Medicaid system in Maryland has got to be expanded." Unfortunately, he's probably right.

What interests me is the idea that the legislature will look at ways to "reduce premiums for people with insurance." In a state with the second-largest number of mandates on health insurance, any reasonable steps to reduce insurance costs would include reducing mandates. Somehow I think our heavily Democratic legislature will instead propose some sort of government program to subsidize the purchasing of insurance.

The General Assembly will meet for a special session next month and then in a regular session in January. It will be interesting to see what emerges.